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Texas Tech football: Bowl projections for the Red Raiders following OSU win

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Ja'Deion High #88 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders breaks free after making the catch during the first half of the game against the Houston Cougars on September 15, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - SEPTEMBER 15: Ja'Deion High #88 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders breaks free after making the catch during the first half of the game against the Houston Cougars on September 15, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech football team has garnered quite a bit of national attention after its win over Oklahoma State and that is reflected in the latest round of bowl projections.

One of the reasons we love college football is the week-to-week thrill ride that each season seems to provide us with.  After the season began on a sour note, Texas Tech fans are now riding high following Saturday’s 41-17 win over Oklahoma State.

Likewise, the national perception of the program has risen significantly this week.  In fact, after not being projected to even make a bowl game after the week one loss to Ole Miss, the Texas Tech football team is now being looked at as a possibility for some high-quality bowls.

Sports Illustrated projects that Texas Tech will wind up in the Camping World Bowl to take on Miami.  The Hurricanes have steadied the ship after a horrendous 33-17 loss to LSU to open the season.  Miami has won three-straight games (though against sub-par competition) to rise to No. 16 in the A.P. poll this week.

Meanwhile, ESPN sees the Red Raiders in a familiar spot, The Alamo Bowl, to take on No. 19 Oregon in San Antonio.  Tech has been to the Alamo Bowl three times (1996, 2001 and 2010) going 1-2 with the lone win coming in it’s most recent appearance, which came just days after Mike Leach was fired as head coach.  The Orlando Sentinel also has Texas Tech in the Alamo Bowl but taking on the USC Trojans.

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Without question, the majority of Red Raider fans would love to see The Sporting News’ bowl prediction come to fruition.  They have Texas Tech and Texas A&M renewing acquaintances in the Academy Sports and Outdoors Texas Bowl in Houston.

This likely will never happen do to the Aggies’ refusal to play any of their former Big 12 in-state brethren on the football field.  The two rivals have not met since 2011 and there appears to be little chance of that happening any time soon despite how fun that would be for all involved.

Brett McMurphy of Stadium.com also has Tech in the Texas Bowl to take on Mississippi State. Hopefully, a matchup against a Mississippi team to end the season would go better for the Red Raiders than their season opener against Ole Miss.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, SB Nation has a rather uninspiring projection.  They have the Red Raiders taking on Arizona State for the third-consecutive year in the Cheeze It Bowl (the former Cactus Bowl) to be played in Phoenix.  That game would not move the needle for most fans of either school making it unlikely to come to fruition.

Related Story. Game balls: Oklahoma State. light

Of course, there is a long way to go until college football bowl season arrives and there is no telling what will happen in the interim.  Texas Tech still has to win three more games to qualify for a bowl but considering that most were counting out the Red Raiders just two weeks ago, it is refreshing to see Texas Tech now being viewed as a likely bowl team.

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